Our summer holiday workshops are off to a fabulous start with lots of fun and adventure already underway. This week is completely sold out but we do have a few spaces next week and a few other dates later in the month. Here are the dates we still have space…

Wednesday the 6th and Thursday the 7th — a 2 day workshop lead by yours truly (April)

Wednesday the 13th — a one day workshop lead by Amanda J

Tuesday the 26th of August — a one day workshop lead by Pascale

If any of those dates work for you please do head over to the booking page of our website and register. We would love to see you in the woods.

Keep an eye on the booking page of our website for all of our exciting new sessions starting this autumn and for the tried and tested favourites too.

Tuesdays (10-3) in Crane Park with Amanda J

Wednesdays (10-3) in Ham Common Woods with Sam

Thursdays (10-3) in Crane Park with Amanda J

Fridays (10-12) in Ham Common Woods with Sam

The Extraordinary Book That Eats Itself

Read it, do it, save it! Every page turns into an eco project that helps you save the planet and recycles the book. A lot of small everyday actions can make a big difference.

You can buy it here.

Why, blackberries, of course!

Perhaps the easiest and most commonly foraged food here in the UK. Who doesn’t love the purple sticky fingers that result from a bramble harvesting session. There is nothing quite like the taste of a perfect, sun-ripened blackberry that was sitting just out of reach so you had to work a bit harder to pick it. Mmmm, it truly is the taste of summer.

The National Trust have some blackberry picking tips for you.

BBC Good Food have a whole collection of recipes you can use your freshly foraged blackberries in.

Natural paints

There is something magical about squishing natural plant and mineral materials to release their colours and then to use those colours to create art. Where once there was natural materials, you can find in the world around you, now there is paint, brushes and beautiful works of art. Pure magic.

The TTS group have a great blog post all about making natural paints, as do Artful Kids.

If you give this one a go we would love to see the results!

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

According to the RSPB they get dozens of sightings of hummingbirds reported each year do to the mistaken identity of this moth who, similar to the hummingbird which is native to the Americas, hovers over flowers to feed on their nectar. Unlike the hummingbird they are not covered in bright colours and do not have a beak. Instead they use their long proboscis to slurp the nectar from flowers.

Find out more from the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts.

If you manage to spot one or even get a photo we would love to know about it.